Surgical treatment of oral burn contractures with assistance of external distractors: Report of two cases

摘要

Chemical bums of the oral cavity are rare and affect children almost exclusively. They usually occur as a result of ingestion of liquid caustic substances [1-3]. In less severe cases, when the toxicity of the preparation is low or when the toxin is immediately removed and the oral cavity cleaned, bums usually involve the anterior part of the oral cavity-the lips, oral vestibule and the tongue. Prolonged contact of the oral cavity with the concentrated toxin may lead to bums involving the posterior part, or even the whole oral cavity and the oesophagus. Treatment of such bums is very demanding and one of the main problems consist in maintaining oral cavity opening in order to promote graft healing. This is especially true in small children, in whom extensive scarring may easily lead to life-threatening impairment of respiration. In our opinion, the use of external distractors, which we have applied in our patients, may facilitate treatment in such cases.